Road improvement works in Athboy

A MAJOR new plan for a bus stop, shelter, widened footpaths and drainage works beside St James's RC Church in Athboy has been unveiled.

The proposals, which also include the removal of a dangerous bend, will be the subject of a Part VIII planning application this week.

The plans will go on public display this week and the public will be able to make submissions.

The location for the new facilities will be at the side of St James’s Church on the road towards Church View.

The council carried out a non-statutory public consultation in June 2021, in which 138 submissions were received from the public.

Following that, the council’s design team put together the plans which are going out on public display to formally seek planning permission.

The plans will be available to view on Meath County Council's website, the library in Athboy and the council offices in Kells and Navan.

If permission is granted for this project and relocation of the bus sto,p it will be funded under the Government's Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, from which Athboy was awarded funding in 2020.

Cllr Mike Bray said: “The lack of a suitable bus stop in the town has been an issue for many years. The council has been working with the relevant authorities and the local community exploring a number of options and potential locations in the town.

“Under this proposal, a bus turning point will be established beside the church, along with a shelter, and the footpaths will be widened. 57 car parking spaces will be provided and a new layout will be designed.

“There will also be a change to the back entrance of the church, the installation of electric vehile charging points as well as six age-friendly parking spaces and four disabled parking bays.

“The dangerous bend at the bottle banks will be straightened and the bottle banks themselves will be relocated to the council yard at the other end of the town."

Cllr Bray said an important aspect of the work will involve addressing the serious issue of flooding at the other end of the street in Butterfield View.

“For many years now the residents in Butterfield View have been greatly impacted by flooding in their properties during periods of heavy rain.

“I have been working with the council engineers and residents to make sure this serious issue is alleviated as part of this project and I welcome the council’s commitment to address this matter.

“I would encourage anyone with any feedback on this proposal to make a submission to the planning office,” concluded Cllr Bray.